Reclining chair fixture



A ril 7, 1964 N. w. MIZELLE RECLINING CHAIR FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 25, 1961 INVENTOR NED W. MIZELLE ATTORNEYS BYMMIMM April 7, 1 N. w. MIZELLE RECLINING CHAIR FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 23, 1961 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,12%,122 RECUNTNG CHAER FEXTURE Ned W. Mizelle, High Point, N11, assignor, by mesne assignments, to General Steel Products, inn, High Point, N.C., a corporatien of Neath (Iarolina Filed May 23, 1961, Ser. No. 112,809 15 Claims. (til. 2297-68) This invention relates to reclining chair fixtures, and more particularly to an improved form of three-way, three-position reclining chair fixtures, the term threeway designating a fixture in which a chair back, chair seat and leg rest member are supported upon a stationary base for constrained movement relative to the base and to each other, and the term three-position designating a fixture in which the seat, back and leg rest are supported for movement between at least two rest positions in addition to the normal position of the respective elements relative to the stationary base. The invention further relates to a fixture of the foregoing type designed for use in high leg chair styles.

In recent years, three-position type reclining chairs have proven to be increasingly popular. A chair of this type is conventionally provided with a chair seat structure and a leg rest which are supported by a reclining chair fixture for movement relative to a stationary base and to each other. Normally the chair is disposed in a normal position in which the seat unit is supported in a conventional relationship to the base and in which the leg rest is in a retracted position so that, to all outward appearances, the chair is a conventional chair. By shifting his weight, the occupant of the chair can tilt the seat unit rearwardly to a reclined position, and the fixture is such that reclining movement of the seat unit drives the leg rest outwardly in front of the chair into leg supporting relationship with the chair seat.

In the conventional two-position reclining chair, the chair seat unit swings directly from its normal position through a substantial arc to a fully reclined position in which the occupants head and feet are at substantially the same level. When in this position, it is generally inconvenient for the occupant to look directly at other persons who might be seated in the room since his position in the chair is such that his gaze is normally directed towards the ceiling of the room. To overcome this inconvenience, the three-position reclining chair was designed to provide an intermediate reclined position in which the chair seat unit is reclined somewhat from its normal upright position and in which the leg rest of the chair is extended in leg supporting relationship with the seat. This intermediate reclined position is sometimes referred to as a conversational or TV position since the occupant is supported in a relaxed reclined position while at the same time is able to view television or to converse with other persons seated in the room.

In the design of three-position fixtures, a primary problem is presented with respect to actuation of the leg rest. Desirably, the chair seat unit is supported so that only a slight reclining movement occurs between the normal and intermediate reclined position of the chair, while at the same time the leg rest must be driven by this slight movement of the seat from its fully retracted position into leg supporting relationship with the chair. Conversely, it is desired to maintain the leg rest in substantially fixed relationship relative to the chair seat while the seat moves between the intermediate and fully reclined positions. This problem is even further magnified in high leg fixtures where the retracted position of the leg rest is such that it must be swung through substantially 180 in moving from a downwardly facing position drawn up closely beneath the chair seat into the upwardly facing extended leg supporting position.

Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide a reclining chair fixture wherein a leg rest assembly may be shifted from a downwardly facing retracted position beneath the chair seat into an extended leg supporting relationship with the seat in response to a relatively small reclining movement of the seat relative to a stationary base.

It is another object of the invention to provide a reclining chair fixture having an intermediate reclined position in which the fixture is maintained by the normal weight reaction of the occupant on the fixture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reclining chair fixture wherein the leg rest and forward position of the seat are maintained against movement relative to a stationary base during movement of the chair between an intermediate and a fully reclined position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a reclining chair fixture wherein movement of the chair elements between an intermediate and a fully reclined position is achieved primarily by movement of the chair back relative to the chair seat and wherein movement of the chair seat and back is coordinated to achieve a stable intermediate reclined position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a reclining chair fixture wherein movement of the chair elements between an intermediate and a fully reclined position is achieved primarily by movement of the chair back relative to the chair seat and wherein movement of the chair seat and back is cordinated to achieve a stable intermediate reclined position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a reclining chair fixture in accordance with the preceding object wherein movement of the chair back relative to the chair seat does not occur during movement of the chair between its normal and intermediate reclined position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a three-way, three-position reclining chair fixture wherein movement of the chair back relative to the chair seat can occur only when the leg rest and forward portion of the seat are maintained in fixed position relative to a stationary base.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a three-way, three-position reclining chair fixture moveable between a normal position and an intermediate reclined position and between an intermediate reclined position and a fully reclined position in two distinct phases of movement by the use of a simple pivotally constrained linkage.

The foregoing, and other objects, are achieved in a reclining chair fixture in which a seat link is supported for movement relative to a stationary base link by independent front and rear support link means. The leg rest linkage assembly is coordinated with the front support link means in a fashion such that movement of the chair seat between a normal and an intermediate reclined position shifts a leg rest member of the leg rest linkage from a downwardly facing retracted position beneath the seat link into a forwardly projected extended leg supporting position. Spaced stop means limit movement of the front support link means and the leg rest to spaced end limits respectively corresponding to the normal and intermediate reclined position of the seat link relative to the stationary base link. Rear support link means are cooperable with the front support link means to shift the rearward portion of the seat link rearwardly and downwardly to that the seat link is shifted from a substantial ly horizontal position to a rearwardly inclined position during movement between the normal and intermediate reclined positions. The rear support link means is a compound linkage which is extensible in the sense that it connects the direct distance between a fixed pivot on the base link and a rear seat pivot on the seat link to be increased or decreased in accordance with movement of the seat link relative to the base link. The linkage is so ar ranged that when the fixture is in its intermediate re clined position, the foregoing distance is at a minimum. A back link is pivotally mounted upon the rearward end of the seat link and is coupled to the rear support link means by a control link. Resilient means normally maintain the back link in its normal upright relationship to the seat link and the geometry of the pivotal connections between the control link and those of the rear support link means is such that the normal weight reaction of the chair occupant assists the resilient means in so maintaining the back link. When the chair reaches its intermediate reclined position, thefront support link means engages a fixed stop on the base link to prevent further rearward movement of the forward portion of the seat link. At this point, a rearwardly applied force exerted on the upper end of the back link tilts the back link rearwardly, and this force is transmitted by the control link to the rear support link means to extend the rear support link means, thereby elevating the rearward end of the seat link somewhat. Because of this elevating movement, the normal weight reaction of the occupant normally maintains the fixture in its intermediate reclined position.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a reclining chair fixture embodying the present invention, showing the fixture in its normal or retracted position with associated parts of a chair frame indicated in broken line;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the fixture in the FIG. 1 position;

FIG. 3is a side elevational view of the fixture of FIG. 1, showing the fixture in an intermediate or first reclined position; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the fixture of FIG. 1, showing the fixture in a second reclined position, with certain elements of the leg rest structure broken away.

The fixture disclosed in the drawings includes a stationary base link 1% which, as seen in PEG. 1, is adapted to be rigidly secured, as by screws, not shown, to a side frame member of a reclining chair base designated generally 12. Base link may be cut away as at 14 to provide clearance or a chair cross-frame member, such as 16, and is preferably formed with a laterally extending flange 18 adapted to be seated on the upper surface of chair side frame member 12. As is conventional in this field, two fixtures are employed on each chair, one fixture extending along each side of the chair seat. Since the fixtures on each side of the chair seat differ only in being right or left handed with respect to one another, only one fixture is shown in the drawings, the particular fixture shown being a right facing fixture which identifies a fixture adapted to be mounted on the left side of the chair frame.

A seat link 26 is supported for movement relative to base link 10 by spaced front and rear support link means designated generally 22 and 24, respectively.

Front support link means 22 takes the form of a link 26 which is pivotally mounted on a front fixed pivot 23 on base link 10 and pivotally connected at its upper end to the forward end of seat link 2% by a front seat pivot 30. Front support link 26 not only supports the forward portion of seat link 29 for movement relative to base link 10, but also coordinates movement of a leg rest assembly designated generally 32 relative to base link 10 in accordance with the motion of seat link 2% relative to base link 10. To perform this latter function, the end of front support link 26 remote from front seat pivot 30 is formed with an L-shaped extension 34. A first leg rest control link 36 is pivotally connected at an intermediate location to a pivot 38 at the toe of extension 34, while a second leg rest control link 46 is pivotally connected at one end to a pivot 42 at the heel of projection 34. The forward most ends of links 36 and at are respectively connected to pivots 44 and 46 located at spaced positions on a main leg rest link 43. The opposite end of control link 36 is connected by a pivot 5th to one end of a control link 52 whose opposite end is mounted on an intermediate fixed pivot 54 on base link It).

An auxiliary leg rest member 56 is pivotally mounted on pivot 46 for controlled movement relative to main leg rest link 4% which is initiated by the engagement between either of laterally projecting lugs 58 or 6i with the opposite sides of leg rest control link 40 or bythe engagement between a cam portion 62 on member 56 with the under surface of a laterally projecting leg rest support flange 64 on main leg rest support link 48. The action of the various elements of the leg rest structure will be described in greater detail below. As best seen in FIG. 1, main leg rest link 48 is adapted to be fixedly secured by means, not shown, to a main leg rest element 65 while an auxiliary leg rest element 63 is fixedly mounted on member 56.

Rear support link means 24 includes a first support link 66 which is pivotally mounted at its lower end upon a rear fixed pivot 63 on the rearward end of base link it). Near its upper end, link 66 is connected to one corner of a triangular link or hell crank iii by a pivot 72, bell crank 70 being pivotally mounted upon a rear seat pivot 7-1 on seat link 2'21. Link d6 and that arm of hell crank '70 between pivots 72 and 74 constitute rear support link means 24 which acts as an extensible link to permit the distance between rear fixed pivot 6% and rear seat pivot 74, or the effective length of rear support link means 24, to be varied in accordance with pivotal movement of bell crank '79 relative to link 66 about pivot '72.

Pivotal movement of bell crank "ill about rear seat pivot '7 is controlled by various elements connected to bell crank 79 at its third pivot 76. Bell crank 70 is normally resiliently maintained in engagement with a stop pin 78. on seat link 2% .by a link and spring connection which includes a link 8t mounted on pivot 76 and a spring 82, connected in tension between the free end of link tilt and a pin 8 fixedly mounted upon seat link 2%.

Bell crank Ml may be pivoted about rear seat pivot 74 by the action of a control link 8d connected at one end to pivot 76 and connected at its opposite end to a pivot 88 on a back link 9%. Back link Wis pivotally connected at its lower end to the rearward end of seat link 2d by a back pivot 92. Pivotal movement of bell crank 7d about seat pivot 74 in a direction away from stop pin "78 is limited by the engagement between a stop pin 94 mounted on the end of link 66 and the upper edge of link 86, as seen in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 1, in an assembled chair, back link 99 is fixedly secured to a chair back frame member such as $6 to support the chair back for controlled pivotal movement about pivot 92 relative to the chair seat secured to seat link 29.

The fixture described above .is what is known as a threeway, three-position fixture in that it is adapted to support three chair elementsthe chair seat, chair back and leg rest in any of three rest positions relative to a stationary chair base. The normal position of the chair is that indicated in FIG. 1 in which the chair seat is supported in a normal, substantially horizontal position with the chair backin a substantially vertical or upright position relative to the chair seat. In this particular rest position of the fixture, main leg rest as of the chair is drawn upwardly into a substantially horizontal, downwardly facing position closely below the chair seat, while auxiliary leg rest 63 is disposed in a vertical, outwardly facing position extending across the front of the chair immediately beneath the chair seat and in front of the main leg rest and various links of the fixture. By virtue of the compact retracted position of the leg rest elements and the links, the fixture described above is also referred to as a high leg fixture because the compact vertical dimension of the fixture in its normal position permits the use of an open or high leg leg frame assembly and does not require that the chair be upholstered to a location close to the floor to conceal the linkage.

The geometry of the fixture is such that the normal weight reaction of a person seated on the chair tends to maintain the chair firmly in the normal position shown in FIG. 1. The downward force which the chair occupant exerts upon the chair seat is applied to the links of the fixture through front seat pivot 36 and rear seat pivot 74, both of which are forwardly offset from their associated fixed pivots 28 and 63 respectively. Movement of the chair seat below the normal position of FIG. 1 is positively prevented by the engagement between a lateral offset portion 96 (FIG. 2) on seat link 26 which passes laterally above a forward projection 98 of base link 10.

To shift the chair from the normal position of FIG. 1 to the first reclined position corresponding to the position of the fixture in FIG. 3, the occupant of the chair pushes against the seat and back of the chair in a direction urging these elements rearwardly relative to the stationary base link 10. Inadvertent movement of the chair from its normal position is resisted by locating the normal position of front seat pivot 30 slightly below front fixed pivot 28 so that a horizontally directed rearward force against the seat link only tends to urge the seat link more firmly into its normal position by virtue of the fact that front seat pivot 30 is below center with respect to front fixed pivot 28 in the normal position. Thus, movement of the chair from the normal position of FIG. 1 must be purposely initiated by the chair occupant by pushing rearwardly against both the seat and chair back, the force applied against the chair back tending to elevate pivot 39 to a location above the horizontal relative to front seat from fixed pivot 28.

Referring now to rear support link means 24, the downward force exerted on rear seat pivot 74 by the weight of the chair occupant is such that this force would tend to pivot bell crank 79 in a clock-wise direction about pivot 72. Pivotal movement of this type urges bell crank 70 into engagement with stop pin 78, this engagement being further augmented by the tensile force exerted by spring 8-2 against bell crank 70. Thus, during the initial phase of movement of the chair, rear support link means 24 functions as a single or simple link because pivot 72 near the upper end of support link 66 is held stationary relative to seat link 26 and hence during movement between the normal position of FIG. 1 and the first reclined position of FIG. 3, base link 16, seat link 29, support link 26 and rear support link means 24 act as a simple four bar linkage bounded by pivots 28, 30, 72 and 68. Thus, during movement between the normal position of FIG. 1 and the first reclined position of FIG. 3, seat link 20 is swung concurrently about pivots 28 and 68 from the forwardly disposed normal position of FIG. 1 to the rearwardly disposed and rearwardly inclined position of FIG. 3.

During this movement, front support link 26 is swung in a counter clockwise direction about pivot 28 and during this movement, L-shaped projection 24 on link 26 drives leg rest control links 36 and 40 from the rest position of FIG. 1 to the extended position of FIG. 3. During this movement, control link 52 manipulates link 36 in a manner such that main leg rest link 48 is pivoted substantially 180 from its downwardly facing position of FIG. 1 into an upwardly facing leg supporting position as shown in FIG. 3.

Referring back to FIG. 1, when the fixture is in its normal position, leg rest control link 40 is disposed with one side of the link in engagement with lug 60 on auxiliary leg rest member 56 and urges cam portion 62 of member 56 firmly against flange 64 on main leg rest link 48. During movement of the fixture to the first reclined position of FIG. 3, control link 40 is pivoted about pivot 46 in a clock-wise direction relative to main leg rest link 48, and during this clock-wise pivotal movement, the opposite edge of link 40 moves into engagement with lug 58 on auxiliary leg rest member 56 to in turn pivot member 56 in a clock-wise direction about pivot 46 to locate the auxiliary leg rest 63 in coplanar relationship with main leg rest 66 when the fixture arrives in the first reclined position of FIG. 3.

The first reclined position of FIG. 3 is established within the fixture by the engagement of a stop pin 1% mounted on base link It) with a side edge of control link 52. This engagement is transmitted through 50, link 36, and pivot 38 to front support link 26 and acts to hold front support link 26 from further pivotal movement in a counter clock-wise direction about pivot 28. The engagement between stop pin 100 and link 52 also locks leg rest assembly 32 in fixed relationship to base link 10.

From a comparison of the position of bell crank 70 relative to seat link 20 in FIGS. 1 and 3, it will be noted that during movement of the fixtures between the normal and first reclined positions, bell crank 70 remains stationary relative to seat link 20 and hence, by virtue of the constrained connection between bell crank 70 and back link through link 86, back link gt} remains in a normal upright position relative to seat link 26 during movement of the fixture between the normal and first reclined positions.

To shift the chair from the first reclined position of FIG. 3 to the second reclined position of FIG. 4, the chair occupant exerts a rearwardly directed force against the upper portion of the chair back to swing back link 90 in counter clock-wise pivotal movement about pivot 92 on the rearward end of seat link 20. This action is resisted by spring 82 and is further resisted to some extent by the weight of the occupant against seat link 20, since in order to pivot back link 90 from its normal upright relationship to seat link 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, to the rearwardly inclined relationship of FIG. 4, it is necessary to elevate the rearward portion of seat link 20.

Rearward tilting movement of back link 90 from the FIG. 3 position is transmitted through control link 86 to pivot 76 on bell crank 70. This action exerts a force on bell crank 70 tending to lift rear seat pivot 74 upwardly about a fulcrum established by a pivot 72. Thus, during movement of the fixture between the first reclined position of FIG. 3 and the second reclined position of FIG. 4, pivot 72 moves downwardly relative to base link 10 while pivot 74 is moved upwardly. This action is basically an extension of the extensible link defined by link 66 and that arm of bell crank 70 extending between pivots 72 and 74.

During movement of the fixture between the FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 positions, front support link means 22 is fixed relative to base link 10 and seat link 20 pivots upwardly about pivot 30 which is held in fixed relationship to base link 10 by the engagement between stop pin 1% and link 52. It will be noted that the weight forces exerted downwardly upon front seat pivot 30 by the chair occupant urge front support link 26 in a counter clockwise direction about pivot 28, thus firmly maintaining the engagement between link 52 and stop pin 1%.

The second reclined position of the chair is established by the engagement between stop pin 94 on link 66 and the upper edge of control link 86.

During movement of the chair between the FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 positions, leg rest assembly 32 remains stationary and hence portions of this assembly have been omitted from FIG. 4.

To return the chair to the normal position, the chair occupant releases his weight from the chair back and spring 82, together with the forces exerted by the occupants weight against rear seat pivot 74, returns the fixture from the FIG. 4 position to the FIG. 3 position. To return the chair to its normal position, it is necessary for the occupant to push the chair seat forwardly relative to s,1as,122

base link to some extent until front seat pivot 30 and pivot 72 pass forwardly on a vertical line passing through their associated fixed pivots 28 and 63 respectively. Once the front and rear seat pivots have passed over center in the foregoing manner, the occupants weight on the chair seat rapidly urges the fixture to the normal position of FIG. 1. During this movement, pivotal movement of front support link 26 about fixed pivot 2% draws the leg rest assembly back beneath the chair seat and during this movement, link 40 is swung in a counter clock-wise direction about pivot 46. During this counter clock-wise pivotal movement, the edge of link 4% moves into engagement with lug 60, thus driving auxiliary leg rests support member 56 above pivot 46 to drive cam surface 62 into engagement with flange 64 as the fixture returns to the position of FIG. 1.

While I have described one embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiment may be modified. Therefore, the foregoing description is to be considered exemplary rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A reclining chair fixture comprising a base link having a first fixed pivot and a second fixed pivot at spaced locations thereon, a seat link having a first seat pivot and a second seat pivot at spaced locations thereon, first support link means pivotally connected to said first fixed pivot and to said first seat pivot, second support link means pivotally connected to said second fixed pivot and to said second seat pivot, said first and second support link means cooperatively supporting said seat link for movement relative to said base link between a substantially horizontal normal position and a rearwardly inclined first reclined position, a back link pivotally mounted on said seat link for movement relative to said seat link between a normally maintained upright position and a rearwardly tilted inclined position, stop means for blocking movement of said first support link means about said first fixed pivot when said seat link is in said first reclined position, and control link means pivotally interconnected between said back link and said second support link means for pivoting said seat link about said first seat pivot to a second reclined position upon movement of said back link to said inclined position while said first support link means is engaged with said stop means.

2. A reclining chair fixture comprising a stationary base link having a first fixed pivot and a second fixed pivot at spaced locations thereon, a seat link having a first seat pivot and a second seat pivot at spaced locations thereon, first support link means pivotally connected to said first fixed pivot and to said first seat pivot, second support link means pivotally connected to said second fixed pivot and to second seat pivot, said first and said second support link means cooperatively supporting said seat link for constrained movement above said base link between a substantially horizontal forwardly disposed normal position and a rearwardly disposed rearwardly inclined first reclined position, a back link pivotally mounted at its lower end on the rearward end of said seat link for movement relative to said seat link between a normally maintained upright position and a rearwardly tilted inclined position, stop means for blocking movement of said first support link means about said first fixed pivot when said seat link is in said first reclined position, and control link means pivotally interconnected between said back link and said second support link means for elevating said second seat pivot relative to said base link by pivoting said seat link about said first seat pivot upon movement of said back link to said inclined position while said first support link means is engaged with said stop means to thereby move said seat link from said first reclined position to a second reclined position.

3. A reclining chair fixture as defined in claim 2 wherein said first fixed pivot is located adjacent the forward end Ill of said base link and said second fixed pivot is located adjacent the rearward end of said base link, said first seat pivot being located adjacent the forward end of said seat link and said second seat pivot being located on said seat link rearwardly of said first seat pivot, whereby the rearward portion of said seat link is elevated upon movement from said first reclined position to said second reclined position.

4. A reclining chair fixture comprising a stationary base link, a seat link, spaced front and rear support link means independently pivotally interconnected between said base link and said seat link to support said seat link for movement between a substantially horizontal forwardly disposed normal position and a rearwardly disposed rearwardly inclined first reclined position, stop means on said base link for blocking moment of said front support link means when said seat link is in said first reclined position, a back link pivotally mounted at its lower end upon the rearward end of said seat link, control link means pivotal- .ly interconnected between said back link and said rear support link means for pivoting said seat link upon said from support link means when said front support link means is blocked by said stop means to shift said seat link from said first reclined position to a second reclined position upon pivotal movement of said back link relative to :said seat link from a normal upright position to a rear 'wardly tilted rest position, and resilient means interconnected between said control link means and said seat link for resiliently biasing said back link toward said normal uprignt position,

5. A reclining chair fixture comprising a stationary base link, a seat link, a front support link pivotally interconnected at spaced locations thereon to the forward end of said base link and to the forward end of said seat link, extensible rear support link means mounted upon a fixed pivot on the rearward end of said base link and connected to a seat pivot on said seat link located intermediate the ends of said seat link, said front support link and said rear support link means cooperatively supporting said seat link for movement relative to said base link between a substantially horizontal forwardly disposed normal position and a rearwardly disposed rearwardly inclined first reclined position, stop means on said base link for blocking rearward movement of said front support link when said seat link is in said first reclined position, a back link pivotally mounted at its lower end upon the rearward end of said seat link, and control link means pivotally interconnected between said back link and said rear support link means for extending said rear support link means to shift said seat link from said first reclined position to a second reclined position upon pivotable movement of said back link relative to said seat link from a normal upright position to a rearwar iy tilted rest position while said front support link is held stationary by said stop means.

6. A reclining chair fixture as defined in claim 5 Wherein said rear support link means comprises a first support link pivotally mounted at its lower end upon said fixed pivot, a second link pivotally connected at spaced locations to the upper end of said first support link and to said seat pivot, said control link means being pivotally connected to said second link at a location spaced from said seat pivot and from the pivotal interconnection between said first and second links.

7. A reclining chair fixture as defined in claim 6 including a stop pin on said seat link, and resilient means connected between said seat link and said second link to resiliently maintain said second link in engagement with said stop pin during movement of said seat link between said normal position and said first reclined position to thereby resiliently maintain said back link against movement relative to said seat link.

8. A reclining chair fixture as defined in claim 6 wherein the pivotal connections between said second link and said control link and between said second link and said first support link are disposed above said seat pivot when said seat link is in said first reclined position.

9. A reclining chair fixture as defined in claim 1 further comprising leg rest linkage means pivotally mounted upon said first support link means and including a leg rest member, a 'leg rest control link pivotally interconnected between said base link and said leg rest linkage means constraining said leg rest linkage means to shift said leg rest member from a downwardly facing retracted position beneath said seat link to an upwardly facing leg supporting position spaced forwardly from said seat link upon movement of said first support link means into blocking engagement with said stop means.

10. A reclining chair fixture as defined in claim 1 wherein said control link means comprises a control link pivoted at one end to said back link and pivoted at its other end to said second support link means, and means coupled between said second support link means and said seat link for maintaining said back link in said upright position during movement of said seat link between said normal position and said first reclined position.

11. A reclining chair fixture as defined in claim wherein said second support link means comprises a first support link pivoted at its lower end upon said second fixed pivot, and a bell crank member pivotally mounted upon said second seat pivot and having a pair of pivots thereon at respective locations spaced from said second seat pivot, one of said pair of pivots connecting said bell crank to the upper end of said first support link and the other of said pair of pivots pivotally connecting said bell crank to said other end of said control link.

12. A reclining chair fixture comprising a base link having a front fixed pivot and a rear fixed pivot at spaced locations thereon, a seat link having a front seat pivot and a rear seat pivot at spaced locations thereon, front support link means pivotally connected to said front fixed pivot and to said front seat pivot, rear support link means pivotally connected to said rear fixed pivot and to said rear seat pivot, said front and said rear support link means cooperatively supporting said seat link for movement relative to said base link between a forwardly disposed substantially horizontal normal position and a rearwardly disposed rearwardly inclined first reclined position, leg rest linkage means pivotally interconnected between said front support link means and said base link and including a leg rest member movable relative to said base link between a retracted position and a forwardly extended leg supporting position upon movement of said seat link between said normal position and said first reclined position, a back link pivotally mounted on said seat link for movement relative to said seat link between a normally maintained upright position and a rearwardly tilted inclined position, stop means engageable with said leg rest linkage means when said seat link is in said first reclined position to establish an end limit of pivotal movement of said front support link means about said front fixed pivot to thereby establish said extended position of said leg rest member relative to said base link, and con trol link means pivotally interconnected between said back link and said rear support link means for pivoting said seat link about said front seat pivot to a second reclined position upon movement of said back link from said upright position to said inclined position while said leg rest linkage means is engaged with said stop means.

13. A reclining chair fixture as defined in claim 12 wherein said front support link means comprises a front support link pivotally connected at one end to said first seat pivot and connected at a location intermediate its ends to said front fixed pivot, the other end of said front support link being pivotally interconnected to said leg rest linkage means, means engageable between said seat link and said base link to establish the normal position of said seat link at a location wherein said front seat pivot is located forwardly of said front fixed pivot in substan tial horizontal alignment therewith, the pivotal interconnection between said front support link and said leg rest linkage means being oriented to dispose said leg rest member in a downwardly facing position beneath said seat link when said seat link is in said normal position.

14. A reclining chair fixture as defined in claim 12 wherein said stop means engages said leg rest linkage means when said front seat pivot is disposed rearwardly and above said front fixed pivot whereby a downwardly directed force upon said seat link urges said leg rest linkage means into engagement with said stop means.

15. A reclining chair fixture as defined in claim 12 wherein said rear support link means comprises extensible link means operable to increase or decrease the distance between said rear fixed pivot and said rear seat pivot, said control link means being operable upon movement of said back link toward said inclined position to extend said extensible link means to elevate said rear seat pivot relative to said base link while said front seat pivot is maintained against movement by the engagement between said stop means and said leg rest linkage means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,375,151 Troxell May 1, 1945 2,890,743 Schliephacke June 16, 1959 2,906,318 Schliephacke Sept. 29, 1959 2,940,509 Fletcher June 14, 1960 2,941,581 Fletcher June 21, 1960 2,966,939 Fletcher Jan. 3, 1961 2,974,720 Jelinek Mar. 14, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 840,489 Great Britain July 6, 1960 847,170 Great Britain Sept. 2, 1960 

1. A RECLINING CHAIR FIXTURE COMPRISING A BASE LINK HAVING A FIRST FIXED PIVOT AND A SECOND FIXED PIVOT AT SPACED LOCATIONS THEREON, A SEAT LINK HAVING A FIRST SEAT PIVOT AND A SECOND SEAT PIVOT AT SPACED LOCATIONS THEREON, FIRST SUPPORT LINK MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST FIXED PIVOT AND TO SAID FIRST SEAT PIVOT, SECOND SUPPORT LINK MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND FIXED PIVOT AND TO SAID SECOND SEAT PIVOT, SAID FIRST AND SECOND SUPPORT LINK MEANS COOPERATIVELY SUPPORTING SAID SEAT LINK FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID BASE LINK BETWEEN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL NORMAL POSITION AND A REARWARDLY INCLINED FIRST RECLINED POSITION, A BACK LINK PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SEAT LINK FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID SEAT LINK BETWEEN A NORMALLY MAINTAINED UPRIGHT POSITION AND A REARWARDLY TILTED INCLINED POSITION, STOP MEANS FOR BLOCKING MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST SUPPORT LINK MEANS ABOUT SAID FIRST FIXED PIVOT WHEN SAID SEAT LINK IS IN SAID FIRST RECLINED POSITION, AND CONTROL LINK MEANS PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTED BETWEEN SAID BACK LINK AND SAID SECOND SUPPORT LINK MEANS FOR PIVOTING SAID SEAT LINK ABOUT SAID FIRST SEAT PIVOT TO A SECOND RECLINED POSITION UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID BACK LINK TO SAID INCLINED POSITION WHILE SAID FIRST SUPPORT LINK MEANS IS ENGAGED WITH SAID STOP MEANS. 